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By Ijaz Kakakhel
ISLAMABAD: To overcome the water shortages, the government has plans to reach about 140 million acre feet (MAF), which would include surface water supplies through canal withdrawals, canal lining and remodeling, irrigation system rehabilitation and improvement programme, construction of small and medium dams, check dams and retention weirs.
About 50.21 MAF of water would be included in the system from underground fresh water aquifer mainly by private tube wells. Water losses of the system through seepage would be improved through major emphasis on water conservation measures such as remodeling and rehabilitation of existing irrigation system, lining of irrigation channels and watercourses and completion of ongoing mega projects.
Water sectors share out of total development budget remained between 16 percent to 20 percent during the last five years whereas for the year 2013-14 the share of water sector is 14 percent or Rs 57.840 billion. Out of total proposed water sectors budget maximum resources have been allocated for timely completion of on-going projects, including construction of small and medium dams, drainage projects, construction of new canals projects and improvement of existing irrigation network.
Under Normal and Emergency Flood schemes, it is planned to spend an amount of Rs 1,000 million to complete about 25 ongoing and new small emergent flood schemes in Pakistan.
Main programmes and projects: An amount of Rs 50,162 million (87 percent of total water sector allocation) has been proposed during 2013-14 for irrigation projects (small and medium dams, check and delay action dams, canals, lining of irrigation channels and Improvement of existing irrigation system). Programme for lining of irrigation channels in saline zones will continue in Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to save the seepage and other losses. A sum of Rs 4,010 million has been proposed to this programme for the next fiscal year 2013-14. Sufficient budget has been allocated to three ongoing (Mangla, Satpara and Gomal Zam Dam) and six new dams, (Ghabir in Punjab, Darwat, Nai Gaj in Sindh, Kurram Tangi, Mohmand and Munda Dam in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Naulong Dams in Balochistan. Remaining works of Phase-I of two new canals projects (Kachhi and Rainee), and Extension of Pat Feeder Canal in Balochistan will continue in full swing for their timely completion. In addition to this adequate funds have also been provided for revamping and rehabilitation of irrigation system of Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Lining of Irrigation Channels in Punjab and Sindh.
Raising of Mangla Dam: Physically the dam is completed, resettlement issues need to be resolved.
Satpara Dam: Physically the dam is completed as Power House No 1 and 2 are in operation, irrigation network needs to be operationalised.
Gomal Zam Dam: Main dam structure has been completed while works on irrigation network is in progress.
Darawat Dam: Its 80 percent physically completed.
Naulong, Naulong, Nai Gaj Dam projects: Preliminary and initial works are in progress.
Kachhi and Raniee Canal: Completion of Phase-I of both canals is planned.
RBOD-I, II and III: Physical works need to be expedited for their substantial completion.
Construction of 100 small dams (Package-I and II): Balochistan (Package-I) is going to be completed whereas contracts for works on Package-II have been awarded.
The government has plan to prioritise development programme in order to lessen the burden of throw forward and operationlisation of public investment already made. Implementation of integrated water resource development approach will overcome water scarcity issue,
Pakistan is seriously water stressed and fast becoming a water-scarce country with significant gaps between water requirements and available resources. There is a strong possibility that the water economy will run dry leading to severe water crises.
However, there are countries with even less water than Pakistan, but much stronger water economies. To be able to avert this situation, Pakistan needs to readjust investment priorities and realign strategies to optimise its water productivity. In order to achieve a growth rate of 7.0 percent to 9.0 percent, water availability has to be ensured for agriculture, industry and urban use. Potential of hydropower and coal has to be exploited through water.
Water is scarce and water use is not efficient. Pakistans water storage efficiency is 9.0 percent as compared to 40 percent of the world average.
Therefore it is imperative to improve the water efficiency, agricultural productivity enhancement for contribution to gross domestic product growth under New Growth Approach.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: To overcome the water shortages, the government has plans to reach about 140 million acre feet (MAF), which would include surface water supplies through canal withdrawals, canal lining and remodeling, irrigation system rehabilitation and improvement programme, construction of small and medium dams, check dams and retention weirs.
About 50.21 MAF of water would be included in the system from underground fresh water aquifer mainly by private tube wells. Water losses of the system through seepage would be improved through major emphasis on water conservation measures such as remodeling and rehabilitation of existing irrigation system, lining of irrigation channels and watercourses and completion of ongoing mega projects.
Water sectors share out of total development budget remained between 16 percent to 20 percent during the last five years whereas for the year 2013-14 the share of water sector is 14 percent or Rs 57.840 billion. Out of total proposed water sectors budget maximum resources have been allocated for timely completion of on-going projects, including construction of small and medium dams, drainage projects, construction of new canals projects and improvement of existing irrigation network.
Under Normal and Emergency Flood schemes, it is planned to spend an amount of Rs 1,000 million to complete about 25 ongoing and new small emergent flood schemes in Pakistan.
Main programmes and projects: An amount of Rs 50,162 million (87 percent of total water sector allocation) has been proposed during 2013-14 for irrigation projects (small and medium dams, check and delay action dams, canals, lining of irrigation channels and Improvement of existing irrigation system). Programme for lining of irrigation channels in saline zones will continue in Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to save the seepage and other losses. A sum of Rs 4,010 million has been proposed to this programme for the next fiscal year 2013-14. Sufficient budget has been allocated to three ongoing (Mangla, Satpara and Gomal Zam Dam) and six new dams, (Ghabir in Punjab, Darwat, Nai Gaj in Sindh, Kurram Tangi, Mohmand and Munda Dam in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Naulong Dams in Balochistan. Remaining works of Phase-I of two new canals projects (Kachhi and Rainee), and Extension of Pat Feeder Canal in Balochistan will continue in full swing for their timely completion. In addition to this adequate funds have also been provided for revamping and rehabilitation of irrigation system of Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Lining of Irrigation Channels in Punjab and Sindh.
Raising of Mangla Dam: Physically the dam is completed, resettlement issues need to be resolved.
Satpara Dam: Physically the dam is completed as Power House No 1 and 2 are in operation, irrigation network needs to be operationalised.
Gomal Zam Dam: Main dam structure has been completed while works on irrigation network is in progress.
Darawat Dam: Its 80 percent physically completed.
Naulong, Naulong, Nai Gaj Dam projects: Preliminary and initial works are in progress.
Kachhi and Raniee Canal: Completion of Phase-I of both canals is planned.
RBOD-I, II and III: Physical works need to be expedited for their substantial completion.
Construction of 100 small dams (Package-I and II): Balochistan (Package-I) is going to be completed whereas contracts for works on Package-II have been awarded.
The government has plan to prioritise development programme in order to lessen the burden of throw forward and operationlisation of public investment already made. Implementation of integrated water resource development approach will overcome water scarcity issue,
Pakistan is seriously water stressed and fast becoming a water-scarce country with significant gaps between water requirements and available resources. There is a strong possibility that the water economy will run dry leading to severe water crises.
However, there are countries with even less water than Pakistan, but much stronger water economies. To be able to avert this situation, Pakistan needs to readjust investment priorities and realign strategies to optimise its water productivity. In order to achieve a growth rate of 7.0 percent to 9.0 percent, water availability has to be ensured for agriculture, industry and urban use. Potential of hydropower and coal has to be exploited through water.
Water is scarce and water use is not efficient. Pakistans water storage efficiency is 9.0 percent as compared to 40 percent of the world average.
Therefore it is imperative to improve the water efficiency, agricultural productivity enhancement for contribution to gross domestic product growth under New Growth Approach.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
